Method and apparatus for providing information

ABSTRACT

Information providing method and apparatus. The method includes generating scene information based on broadcasting related information received from a broadcasting information generation apparatus, providing the generated scene information to a user device in response to a scene information request received from the user device, receiving an information request from the user device and providing information with reference to the scene information to the user device in response to the information request. The broadcasting information generation apparatus generates the broadcasting related information based on a broadcasting program schedule generated by a broadcasting transmission apparatus.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority from the Korean PatentApplication No. 10-2011-0112535, filed on Oct. 31, 2011 in the KoreanIntellectual Property Office, the entire disclosure of which isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

Exemplary embodiments broadly relate to a method and an apparatus forproviding detailed information, and more particularly, to a method andan apparatus for providing detailed or additional information aboutbroadcasting contents.

2. Description of Related Art

Recently, the propagation of ultrahigh speed communication networks andthe communication technology have been gradually fused. Accordingly, theinternet protocol television (IPTV), which enables a user to selectivelyreceive his/her desired contents, has become the biggest issue in thebroadcasting industry.

According to a related art, it is possible to provide a service, bywhich when a user requests related information, such as detailed oradditional information, about a broadcasting program provided through aTV while viewing the TV, the related information is output through theTV or a display device connected to the TV together with thebroadcasting program.

For example, Korean Patent Application Publication No. 2010-0030048describes that while broadcasting contents are being provided to a user,advertisement contents about an advertisement object within thebroadcasting contents are provided to a user device in synchronizationwith a time point when the advertisement object appears in theadvertisement contents, and the user device separates the providedadvertisement contents from the broadcasting contents to output theadvertisement contents to a separate monitor. Korean Patent ApplicationPublication No. 2009-0100132 describes outputting advertisement datamatched with scene information and speech information included inbroadcasting data, providing differentiated rewards for viewingadvertisement depending on a total viewing time for advertisement viewedby a viewer, and providing local advertisement data based locality.

As the propagation of smart devices capable of being portable andconducting real-time network communication is increasing, informationprovision technology enabling real-time provision of information andparticipation in any event even during movement has been developed.Various services using the technology have been provided.

With the propagation of the various portable devices, there have beenneeds for a service to output related information about a broadcastingprogram through a portable device, and not a device outputting thebroadcasting program.

SUMMARY

An exemplary embodiment provides a user with information about abroadcasting program being viewed by the user in a display device suchas a TV, using a portable device of the user.

According to an aspect of exemplary embodiments, there is provided amethod of providing information. The method includes generatingbroadcasting related information based on a broadcasting scheduleprovided by a broadcasting transmission apparatus, generating sceneinformation based on the broadcasting related information received froma broadcasting information generation apparatus, providing the generatedscene information to a user device in response to a scene informationrequest received from a user device, receiving an information requestbased on the provided scene information from the user device andproviding the information to the user device in response to theinformation request.

According to another aspect of exemplary embodiments, there is providedan apparatus for providing information. The apparatus includes abroadcasting program schedule receiver configured to receive abroadcasting program schedule from a broadcasting transmissionapparatus, a broadcasting program schedule provider configured toprovide the received broadcasting program schedule to a broadcastinginformation generation apparatus in response to a broadcasting programschedule request received from the broadcasting information generationapparatus, a broadcasting related information receiver configured toreceive, from the broadcasting information generation apparatus,broadcasting related information that is generated by the broadcastinginformation generation apparatus based on the broadcasting programschedule, a scene information provider configured to provide a userdevice with scene information about a scene included in contents that isbeing reproduced and an information provider configured to provideinformation to the user device in response to an information requestgenerated based on the provided scene information by the user device.

According to another aspect of exemplary embodiments, there is provideda method of receiving information. The method includes transmitting ascene information request comprising contents identification informationto a broadcasting participation service apparatus, receiving sceneinformation matched with the contents identification information fromthe broadcasting participation service apparatus, displaying thereceived scene information using a display unit included in a userdevice, generating an information request in response to a user input inwhich at least one object information included in the scene informationis selected, transmitting the information request corresponding to theselected object information to the broadcasting participation serviceapparatus and displaying the information received from the broadcastingparticipation service apparatus using the display unit.

According to exemplary embodiments, it may be possible to provide a userusing a user device with scene information and information aboutbroadcasting contents, where the broadcasting program may be abroadcasting program and an advertisement program being provided to theuser using a TV.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Non-limiting and non-exhaustive exemplary embodiments will be describedin conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Understanding that thesedrawings depict only exemplary embodiments and are, therefore, not to beintended to limit its scope, the exemplary embodiments will be describedwith specificity and detail taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a configuration of an informationproviding system according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of providing informationaccording to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of providing informationaccording to another exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of providing informationaccording to another exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of providing informationaccording to another exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a broadcasting participationservice apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating an information provider accordingto another exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating an information provider accordingto another exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating an information provider accordingto another exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a view illustrating exemplary scene information displayed ona user device according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIGS. 11A and B are views illustrating exemplary information displayedon a user device according to an exemplary embodiment; and

FIG. 12 is a view illustrating exemplary scene information includingobject information about advertisement output to a TV according to anexemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments will be described in detail withreference to the accompanying drawings to be readily implemented bythose skilled in the art. However, it is to be noted that the presentdisclosure is not limited to the exemplary embodiments, but can berealized in various other ways. In the drawings, certain parts notdirectly relevant to the description of exemplary embodiments areomitted to enhance the clarity of the drawings, and like referencenumerals denote analogous parts throughout the whole document.

Throughout the whole document, the terms “connected to” or “coupled to”are used to designate a connection or coupling of one element to anotherelement and include both a case where an element is “directly connectedor coupled to” another element and a case where an element is“electronically connected or coupled to” another element via stillanother element. Further, the term “comprises or includes” and/or“comprising or including” used in the document means that one or moreother components, steps, operations, and/or the existence or addition ofelements are not excluded in addition to the described components,steps, operations and/or elements.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments will be explained in detail byreference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a configuration of an informationproviding system according to an exemplary embodiment.

A broadcasting transmission apparatus 100 transmits a broadcastingprogram to a display device 10 of a user, e.g., a settop-box (STB) or aTV, through a broadcasting providing network. The display device 10 ofthe user displays the broadcasting program received from thebroadcasting transmission apparatus 100 to provide the broadcastingprogram to a user 20.

The broadcasting transmission apparatus 100 transmits a broadcastingprogram schedule for the broadcasting program to be transmitted, i.e.,the broadcasting program to be transmitted to the display device 10 ofthe user, to a broadcasting participation service apparatus 200.

In response to a request from a broadcasting information generationapparatus 300, the broadcasting participation service apparatus 200transmits the broadcasting program schedule received from thebroadcasting transmission apparatus 100 to the broadcasting informationgeneration apparatus 300.

The broadcasting participation service apparatus 200 receivesbroadcasting related information about a broadcasting program includedin the broadcasting program schedule, i.e., broadcasting contents, fromthe broadcasting information generation apparatus 300, generates sceneinformation and information for the broadcasting program by using thereceived broadcasting related information, and stores the generatedscene information and the generated information while matching theinformation with the broadcasting contents and the broadcasting programschedule.

In response to a request from a user device 400, the broadcastingparticipation service apparatus 200 may provide the scene informationand the generated information to the user device 400.

The user 20 requests the scene information from the broadcastingparticipation service apparatus 200 by using the user device 400 inorder to be provided with the generated information for a broadcastingprogram that the user is viewing using a display device 10 such as a TV.The user device 400 may include an application for requesting the sceneinformation and the generated information to the broadcastingparticipation service apparatus 200 and receiving the generatedinformation.

The broadcasting information generation apparatus 300 receives thebroadcasting program schedule from the broadcasting participationservice apparatus 200. By using the received broadcasting programschedule, the broadcasting information generation apparatus 300generates broadcasting related information for the broadcasting providedto the user by the broadcasting transmission apparatus 100.

For example, if drama contents are provided to the user by thebroadcasting transmission apparatus 100, the broadcasting informationgeneration apparatus 300 may generate broadcasting related informationincluding information about objects such as persons, places, andvehicles that appear in the corresponding drama contents, andfurthermore, product in placement (PPL) advertisement information forproducts, and services, etc. that appear in the drama contents.

The broadcasting related information generated by the broadcastinginformation generation apparatus 300 may be synchronized with abroadcasting reproduction time included in the broadcasting programschedule. In other words, the broadcasting related information may begenerated such that contents to be provided are changed with a lapse oftime.

For example, each time the people appearing in the drama contents arechanged, items to be provided to the user or other people in thebroadcasting related information may also be changed based on the peoplethat appear in the drama contents.

That is, the broadcasting information generation apparatus 300 maygenerate the broadcasting related information such that when an actor“A” appears in the drama contents, information about the actor “A” isprovided using the broadcasting related information, and when an actor“B” appears as the drama contents are reproduced again, informationabout the actor “B” is provided using the broadcasting relatedinformation.

The broadcasting information generation apparatus 300 provides thegenerated broadcasting related information to the broadcastingparticipation service apparatus 200 while matching the broadcastingrelated information with its corresponding broadcasting contents. Thebroadcasting information generation apparatus 300 may include devicesand others of a producer producing broadcasting contents oradvertisement contents, an advertisement producer providingadvertisement using the broadcasting contents, and a user registeringhis/her comments in video on demand (VOD) contents.

The user device 400 displays the scene information received from thebroadcasting participation service apparatus 200 on a screen or the liketo provide the scene information to the user 20. The user 20 may requestadditional information about any one of one or more object informationincluded in the provided scene information from the broadcastingparticipation service apparatus 200 using the user device 400.

For example, the object information may be in an icon form thatcomprises at least one of an image, a text, and others. The user 20 mayselect an icon, for which the user wants detailed information, from theat least one icon included in the scene information, so as to beprovided with detailed information including the desired detailedinformation from the broadcasting participation service apparatus 200using the user device 400.

Exemplary scene information and exemplary generated information that theuser device 400 receives from the broadcasting participation serviceapparatus 200 and which is displayed on the screen will be described ingreater detail below with reference to FIGS. 10 to 12.

In an exemplary embodiment, the broadcasting transmission apparatus 100,the broadcasting participation service apparatus 200, the broadcastinginformation generation apparatus 300, the display apparatus 10, and theuser device 400 may include a hardware processor, a memory, andoptionally a display screen.

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of providing informationaccording to an exemplary embodiment.

In operation S105, the broadcasting transmission apparatus 100 transmitsthe broadcasting program schedule to the broadcasting participationservice apparatus 200. As aforementioned, the broadcasting transmissionapparatus 100 may transmit a broadcasting program to provide thebroadcasting program to a display device (not illustrated) of a usersuch as a TV. The broadcasting transmission apparatus 100 may transmit aschedule of the broadcasting program provided by the broadcastingtransmission apparatus 100 to the broadcasting participation serviceapparatus 200. The broadcasting program schedule may includeidentification information, broadcasting time information, and channelinformation for the broadcasting program provided by the broadcastingtransmission apparatus 100.

In operation S110, the broadcasting information generation apparatus 300transmits the broadcasting program schedule request to the broadcastingparticipation service apparatus 200. The broadcasting informationgeneration apparatus 300 may transmit the broadcasting program schedulerequest to the broadcasting participation service apparatus 200 in orderto generate broadcasting related information for broadcasting contentssuch as real-time broadcasting and video on demand (VOD) provided to theuser by the broadcasting transmission apparatus 100.

In operation S115, in response to the broadcasting program schedulerequest received in operation S110, the broadcasting participationservice apparatus 200 transmits and provides the broadcasting programschedule received from the broadcasting transmission apparatus 100 inoperation S105 to the broadcasting information generation apparatus 300.

In operation S120, the broadcasting information generation apparatus 300generates broadcasting related information for broadcasting contentsincluded in the broadcasting program schedule received in operationS115, and transmits the generated broadcasting related information tothe broadcasting participation service apparatus 200.

The broadcasting information generation apparatus 300 may analyze thebroadcasting program schedule received in operation S115, selectbroadcasting contents, for which related information is desired to beprovided, from the broadcasting contents included in the broadcastingprogram schedule, and generate the broadcasting related information forthe selected broadcasting contents, e.g., information about the selectedbroadcasting contents or advertisement information about people,products, music, and advertisement, etc., appearing in the broadcastingcontents, event information related to the broadcasting contents, andcomment information input by at least one user with regard to thebroadcasting contents.

The broadcasting information generation apparatus 300 may match thebroadcasting related information with reproduction time of thebroadcasting contents. For example, if a vehicle “A” appears in thebroadcasting contents, in order to provide related information for thevehicle “A” at the time when the vehicle “A” appears, the broadcastinginformation generation apparatus 300 may match the broadcasting relatedinformation with the reproduction time of the broadcasting contents.

In operation S125, the broadcasting participation service apparatus 200generates contents information for the broadcasting contents by usingthe broadcasting related information received in operation S120. Thatis, the broadcasting participation service apparatus 200 may generatecontents information including related information about thebroadcasting contents included in the broadcasting related information.The contents information may include scene information and informationrelated to the broadcasting.

The scene information may include brief information about thebroadcasting related information, e.g., information in an icon form thatcan represent a title or a theme of the corresponding information. Theinformation related to the broadcasting may include information for thescene information, e.g., information about people, products, music, andadvertisement, etc., advertisement information, event information,comment information input by at least one user such as user reviews ofthe broadcasting, and others.

For example, if a genre of the broadcasting contents is drama, thecontents information may include information about people, backgroundplaces, vehicles, and clothes, etc., appearing in the drama. In thatcase, the scene information may include icons that include photos andnames of the people and background places, etc. The information relatedto the broadcasting may include detailed descriptions of people, andbackground places, etc. For example, in case of a person, theinformation related to the broadcasting may include a profile of theperson, photos of the person and related to the person, and relatedarticles, etc.

In operation S130, the user device 400 requests scene information forcontents from the broadcasting participation service apparatus 200. Thatis, the user device 400 may select broadcasting contents that arecurrently being aired on a certain channel, and request sceneinformation for the selected broadcasting contents to the broadcastingparticipation service apparatus 200. The scene information request bythe user device 400 may include identification information of thebroadcasting contents.

For example, if the user is currently viewing the entertainment program“I'm a singer” using a TV, the user may select “I'm a singer” by usingan application provided in the user device 400 for providing abroadcasting participation service so as to request the sceneinformation from the broadcasting participation service apparatus 200using the user device 400.

In operation S135, in response to the scene information request receivedin operation S130, the broadcasting participation service apparatus 200transmits scene information that matches the contents identificationinformation included in the received scene information request(operation S130), to the user device 400.

In operation S140, the user device 400 displays the scene informationreceived in operation S135 using a display unit such as the screen ofthe user device 400. As aforementioned, the scene information mayinclude an icon that indicates or identifies information aboutbroadcasting contents, and others. The user device 400 displays the iconso as to briefly provide the user with the information that can beprovided with regard to the broadcasting contents.

In operation S145, the user device 400 receives a request forbroadcasting related information input by the user. That is, the userdevice 400 may receive the user's selection of the object informationincluded in the scene information displayed on the screen or others inoperation S140, e.g., one of the at least one icon.

For example, the user may input into the user device 400 an item, forwhich details are to be provided to the user, among the at least oneicon included in the scene information displayed in the user device 400,e.g., selection of an icon corresponding to an item for a certainperson.

The user device 400 may receive the input from the user to request thebroadcasting related information for the scene information displayed inoperation S140.

In operation S150, in response to the input request for content relatedinformation received in operation S145, the user device 400 requests thecontent related information corresponding to the request input by theuser from the broadcasting participation service apparatus 200.

For example, the user device 400 transmits identification information ofan item selected in the input request received in operation S145 to thebroadcasting participation service apparatus 200 so as to request thecontent related information for the selected item.

In operation S155, in response to the request received in operationS150, the broadcasting participation service apparatus 200 provides therequested content related information to the user device 400.

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of providing informationaccording to another exemplary embodiment.

In operation S205, in response to the scene information request receivedfrom the user device 400 (not shown), the broadcasting participationservice apparatus 200 transmits scene information corresponding to thereceived request to the user device 400.

In operation S210, the user device 400 displays the scene informationreceived in operation S205 on the screen of the user device 400 orothers. As aforementioned, the user device 400 may display an icon thatcan briefly indicate or identify information about the broadcastingcontents included in the scene information.

In operation S215, the user device 400 receives from the user input of arequest for advertisement information included in the scene information.That is, the user may input into the user device 400 a selection ofadvertisement information among the object information included in thescene information displayed on the screen of the user device 400 orothers in operation S210.

The scene information received by the user device 400 in operation S205may include an item that indicates or identifies advertisementinformation about a certain product appearing in broadcasting contents.For example, if a genre of the broadcasting contents is a drama, thescene information may include items about clothes, a watch, and a smartphone, etc., of a person appearing in the drama, in particular, anadvertisement for a corresponding product, e.g., product in placement(PPL) advertisement.

If a genre of the broadcasting contents is an advertisement, the sceneinformation may include an item for an advertisement target productappearing in the advertisement, or an item for a product or a place,which appears in the advertisement but is not an advertisement targetproduct.

Accordingly, if the user wishes to see additional information of an itemincluded in the drama contents or the advertisement contents, the usermay input into the user device 400 an advertisement information requestfor the corresponding item.

In operation S220, in response to receiving the advertisementinformation request in operation S215, the user device 400 requestsadvertisement information corresponding to the advertisement requestinput by the user from the broadcasting participation service apparatus200. That is, the user device 400 transmits an advertisement informationrequest to the broadcasting participation service apparatus 200.

In operation S225, in response to the advertisement information requestreceived in operation S220, the broadcasting participation serviceapparatus 200 provides the requested advertisement information to theuser device 400. The advertisement information provided by thebroadcasting participation service apparatus 200 to the user device 400may include additional an interactive interface such as an input buttonfor requesting purchase of an advertisement target product or service.

The advertisement information provided to the user device 400 by thebroadcasting participation service apparatus 200 may include evaluationsuch as comments input by multiple users with regard to theadvertisement target product or service. Also, the advertisementinformation may include information about the advertisement targetproduct or service of the advertisement contents provided to the userusing a TV or others. Furthermore, the advertisement information mayinclude information about a product and others associated with theadvertisement target product or service, information about a placeappearing in the advertisement contents, and others.

In operation S230, based on input by the user, the user device 400requests purchase information for a product or a service included in theadvertisement information received in operation S225 from thebroadcasting participation service apparatus 200. That is, the userdevice transmits a purchase information request to the broadcastingparticipation service apparatus 200.

As aforementioned, the advertisement information received by the userdevice 400 in operation S225 may include an interactive interface suchas an input button or others for requesting purchase of an advertisementtarget product or service. The user may input a purchase informationrequest into the user device by using an input interface such as aninput button.

Based on the input of the purchase information request, the user device400 may transmit the purchase information request to the broadcastingparticipation service apparatus 200 in operation S230.

In operation S235, in response to the purchase information requestreceived in operation S230, the broadcasting participation serviceapparatus 200 provides the user device 400 with purchase informationincluding information for purchasing a corresponding product or service.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of providing informationaccording to another exemplary embodiment.

In operation S305, in response to the scene information request receivedfrom the user device 400 (not shown), the broadcasting participationservice apparatus 200 transmits scene information corresponding to thereceived request to the user device 400.

In operation S310, the user device 400 displays the scene informationreceived in operation S305 on the screen of the user device 400 orothers. As aforementioned, the user device 400 may display an icon thatcan briefly indicate or identify information for the broadcastingcontents included in the scene information.

In operation S315, the user device 400 receives from the user an inputof a request for event participation included in the scene information.That is, the user may select event information among the objectinformation included in the scene information displayed on the screen ofthe user device 400 or others to input an event participation requestinto the user device 400.

The scene information received by the user device 400 in operation S305may include items that represent events associated with the broadcastingcontents. For example, if a genre of the broadcasting contents is acontest program, an event for guessing contest ranking may be held or anevent for voting for a particular person appearing in the contest may beprovided. The scene information may include an item representing theevent.

Accordingly, if the user wishes to participate in the event, the usermay input an event participation request into the user device 400.

In operation S320, in response to input of the event participationrequest received in operation S315, the user device 400 requestsparticipation in an event corresponding to the event participationrequest input by the user from the broadcasting participation serviceapparatus 200. That is, the user device 400 transmits an eventparticipation request to the broadcasting participation serviceapparatus.

In operation S325, in response to the event participation requestreceived in operation S320, the broadcasting participation serviceapparatus 200 provides event information for the requested event to theuser device 400. The event information provided to the user device 400by the broadcasting participation service apparatus 200 may include aninteractive interface such as an input button for participating in theevent.

In operation S330, based on input by the user, the user device 400transmits to the broadcasting participation service apparatus 200 anevent response to the event information received in operation S325.

As aforementioned, the event information received by the user device 400in operation S325 may include an interactive interface such as an inputbutton for participating in the event. The user may input responseinformation to the event by using the input interface such as an inputbutton. For example, in case of the event for guessing contest ranking,the user may input the event response for the contest ranking selectedby the user into the user device 400 by using the input interface suchas an input button.

Based on the event response input by the user, the user device 400 maytransmit the event response to the broadcasting participation serviceapparatus 200.

In operation S335, based on the event response received in operationS330, the broadcasting participation service apparatus 200 generates anevent result for the corresponding event. The broadcasting participationservice apparatus 200 may generate the event result by using the eventresponse received from at least one user device.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of providing informationaccording to another exemplary embodiment.

In operation S405, in response to the scene information request receivedfrom the user device 400 (not shown), the broadcasting participationservice apparatus 200 transmits scene information corresponding to thereceived request to the user device 400.

In operation S410, the user device 400 displays the scene informationreceived in operation S405 on the screen of the user device 400 orothers. As aforementioned, the user device 400 may display an icon thatcan indicate or identify information related to the broadcastingcontents included in the scene information.

In operation S415, the user device 400 receives from the user an inputof a request for comment information included in the scene information.That is, the user may select comment information among the objectinformation included in the scene information displayed on the screen ofthe user device 400 or others in operation S410 so as to input adetailed comment request into the user device 400.

The scene information received by the user device 400 in operation 5405may include items for requesting comments related to broadcastingcontents. For example, if the broadcasting contents are video on demand(VOD) comments of a program for traveling around various regions,comment information input by other users who have already viewed thecorresponding VOD contents may be matched with the correspondingcontents and stored in the broadcasting participation service apparatus200. The scene information may include items for requesting the commentsinformation.

Accordingly, if the user wishes to request comment information relatedto contents, the user may input a comment information request into theuser device 400.

In operation 5420, in response to the input of the comment informationrequest received in operation 5415, the user device 400 requests thecomment information related to the contents corresponding to the commentinformation request input by the user from the broadcastingparticipation service apparatus 200. That is, the user device 400transmits the comment information request to the broadcastingparticipation service apparatus 200.

In operation S425, in response to the comment information requestreceived in operation S420, the broadcasting participation serviceapparatus 200 provides the requested comment information to the userdevice 400. The comment information may include information about thenumber of related comments, or parts of comments related to thecorresponding contents. The comment information may includeidentification information of the corresponding contents andidentification information of each comment.

In operation S430 the user device 400 displays the comment informationreceived in operation S425 on the screen of the user device 400 orothers so as to provide the information to the user.

In operation S435, the user device 400 receives from the user input of aselection of a certain comment included in the comment information. Thatis, the user may select a comment, for which additional information isto be provided, from the comment information displayed on the screen ofthe user device 400 or others.

As aforementioned, the comment information displayed in the user device400 may include the number of comments related to the correspondingcontents or parts of comments related to the corresponding contents. Ifthe user wishes to see information provided in a comment related to thecorresponding contents, e.g., entire contents of the comment, the usermay select the corresponding comment.

In operation S440, the user device 400 requests comment relatedinformation for the selected comment from the broadcasting participationservice apparatus 200. That is, the user device 400 transmits a requestfor comment related information to the broadcasting participationservice apparatus 200.

In operation S445, in response to the comment related informationrequest received in operation S440, the broadcasting participationservice apparatus 200 provides the user device 400 with comment relatedinformation including requested information provided in the requestedcomment, reproduction time point matched with the corresponding comment,and others.

The comment related information provided to the user device 400 by thebroadcasting participation service apparatus 200 may include areproduction time point of contents matched with the correspondingcomment.

That is, the comment related information provided by the broadcastingparticipation service apparatus 200 may include an entire message of thecorresponding comment. Also, the comment related information may includereproduction time point matched with each comment.

That is, at least one comment registered in association with contentsmay be registered while being matched with a certain reproduction timepoint of the corresponding contents. The comment related information mayinclude information of a reproduction time point when each comment isgenerated by any users, or information of a reproduction time point setby a user who has generated a comment.

For example, if broadcasting contents is video on demand (VOD) contentsof a program for traveling around various regions, in a scene of acertain region, at least one user may register a comment based onhis/her experience in the corresponding region. In this case, theregistered comment may be registered while being matched with areproduction time point of the scene of the certain region.

Accordingly, by using the comment related information provided by thebroadcasting participation service apparatus 200, the user may reproduceand enjoy contents while moving comments for each of the contentsdirectly to a set reproduction time point using the user device or thedisplay device.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a broadcasting participationservice apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment.

The broadcasting participation service apparatus 200 according to anexemplary embodiment includes a broadcasting program schedule receiver205, a broadcasting program schedule provider 210, a broadcastingrelated information receiver 215, a scene information generator 220, aninformation generator 225, a scene information request receiver 230, ascene information provider 235, an information request receiver 240, a,information provider 245, a scene information database 250, and aninformation database 255.

The broadcasting program schedule receiver 205 receives the broadcastingprogram schedule from the broadcasting transmission apparatus (notillustrated). As aforementioned, the broadcasting transmission apparatuscan generate a broadcasting program schedule for a broadcasting programto be transmitted to a TV, a settop box, or others so as to provide thebroadcasting program schedule to the broadcasting participation serviceapparatus 200. The broadcasting program schedule receiver 205 canreceive the broadcasting program schedule generated by the broadcastingtransmission apparatus from the broadcasting transmission apparatus.

In response to a broadcasting program schedule request received from thebroadcasting information generation apparatus (not illustrated), thebroadcasting program schedule provider 210 provides the broadcastingprogram schedule received by the broadcasting program schedule receiver205 to the broadcasting information generation apparatus.

The broadcasting information generation apparatus may requestbroadcasting program schedule of a certain channel or a broadcastingprogram schedule of certain broadcasting contents. The broadcastinginformation generation apparatus may request an entire broadcastingprogram schedule of for all the channels.

Accordingly, the broadcasting program schedule provider 210 can providepartial or an entire broadcasting program schedule to the broadcastinginformation generation apparatus in response to the broadcasting programschedule request from the broadcasting information generation apparatus.

The broadcasting related information receiver 215 receives, from thebroadcasting information generation apparatus, broadcasting relatedinformation that the broadcasting information generation apparatusgenerates by using the broadcasting program schedule provided by thebroadcasting program schedule provider 210.

By using the broadcasting related information received by thebroadcasting related information receiver 215, the scene informationgenerator 220 generates scene information including information about atleast one item for contents matched with the broadcasting relatedinformation, and stores the generated scene information in a sceneinformation database 250.

That is, the scene information generator 220 can generate sceneinformation including brief information about broadcasting contents byusing the broadcasting related information. The brief information aboutthe related information may include at least one item that can beexpressed in an icon form including an image, texts, and others.

By using the broadcasting related information received by thebroadcasting related information receiver 215, the information generator225 generates information including information about at least one itemfor contents matched with the broadcasting related information, andstores the generated information in the information database 255.

That is, the information generator 225 can generate information aboutbroadcasting contents by using the broadcasting related information. Theinformation generated by the information generator 225 may includeinformation about an item included in the scene information.

In an exemplary embodiment, the scene information may include briefinformation about at least one item for broadcasting contents or simplyan identification of at least one item for broadcasting contents. Theinformation may include information or detailed additional informationabout each item included in the scene information.

The scene information request receiver 230 receives a request forproviding scene information about a certain broadcasting contents fromthe user device (not illustrated). The scene information requestreceiver 230 may include identification information of the requestedbroadcasting contents together with the request for scene information.

The scene information provider 235 acquires, from the scene informationdatabase 250, scene information of a broadcasting contents correspondingto the scene information request received by the scene informationrequest receiver 230 so as to provide the acquired information to theuser device.

The information request receiver 240 receives a request for providinginformation about a certain item of a certain broadcasting contents fromthe user device. The information request received by the informationrequest receiver 240 may be generated by the user device by using thescene information provided to the user device by the scene informationprovider 235. The information request may include identificationinformation of the requested broadcasting contents, and identificationinformation about a certain item of the broadcasting contents.

The information provider 245 acquires information corresponding to theinformation request received by the information request receiver 240from the information database 255 to provide the information to the userdevice.

The scene information and the information generated in theabove-described exemplary embodiment are not used for one broadcastingprogram, and may be used for multiple broadcasting programs. This isprovided by way of an example only and in other exemplary embodiments,the scene information and the information may be provided for a singlebroadcasting program.

For example, an icon for a product “A” included in the scene informationmay be applied to scene information for various broadcasting contents,in which the product “A” is shown. Likewise, information about theproduct “A” may be provided as information about various broadcastingcontents, in which the product “A” is shown.

Especially, if information is information related to an event, theinformation related to the event may be included in the sceneinformation about the broadcasting contents corresponding to the event,and furthermore, may be included in scene information about otherbroadcasting contents.

Accordingly, if each users viewing broadcasting contents of differentchannels using TVs are provided with scene information about thebroadcasting contents that the users are viewing, using the user device,even though the users are viewing the different channels, they may beprovided with information about an identical event using the sceneinformation and participate in the corresponding event.

Further, even if each user is viewing broadcasting contents in differenttime zones, and not in the same time zone, the users may be providedwith information about an identical event using the scene informationand participate in the corresponding event.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating an information provider accordingto another exemplary embodiment.

The information provider 245 according to another exemplary embodimentincludes an advertisement information provider 1010, a purchaseinformation request receiver 1020, a purchase information provider 1030,and an advertisement database 1040.

In response to an advertisement information request received from a userdevice (not illustrated), the advertisement information provider 1010acquires advertisement information matched with the receivedadvertisement information request from the advertisement database 1040to provide the advertisement information to the user device.

The scene information provided to the user device by a scene informationprovider (not illustrated) may include a PPL advertisement item for aproduct or a service appearing in the broadcasting contents, or an itemfor a target product or service of advertisement broadcasting contents.

Accordingly, if the user selects the above-described advertisementrelated item from the scene information provided through the userdevice, the user device may request advertisement information matchedwith the selected advertisement item from the broadcasting participationservice apparatus (not illustrated). The advertisement informationprovider 1010 may provide the requested advertisement information to theuser device.

The purchase information request receiver 1020 receives, from the userdevice, a purchase information request generated by the user devicebased on the advertisement information provided to the user device bythe advertisement information provider 1010.

That is, the user device may request purchase information for purchaseof an advertised target product or service included in the advertisementinformation received from the advertisement information provider 1010,from the broadcasting participation service apparatus. The purchaseinformation request receiver 1020 may receive the purchase informationrequest from the user device.

In response to the purchase information request received by the purchaseinformation request receiver 1020, the purchase information provider1030 acquires the requested purchase information from the advertisementdatabase 1040 to provide the purchase information to the user device.

The purchase information request received by the purchase informationrequest receiver 1020 may include identification information of aproduct or a service, which is a purchase target, or identificationinformation of the advertisement information provided by theadvertisement information provider 1010.

Accordingly, the purchase information provider 1030 may acquire therequested purchase information from the advertisement database 1040 byusing the identification information so as to provide the purchaseinformation to the user device.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating an information provider accordingto another exemplary embodiment.

The information provider 245 according to another exemplary embodimentincludes an event information provider 1110, an event response receiver1120, an event result generator 1130, and an event database 1140.

In response to an event participation request received from the userdevice (not illustrated), the event information provider 1110 providesevent information matched with the received event participation requestto the user device.

The scene information provided to the user device by the sceneinformation provider (not illustrated) may include an event item relatedto the broadcasting contents. Accordingly, if the user selects the eventrelated item from the scene information provided to the user device, theuser device may request to participate in an event matched with theselected event related item from the broadcasting participation serviceapparatus. The event information provider 1110 may provide informationabout the requested event to the user device.

Based on the event information provided to the user device by the eventinformation provider 1110, the event response receiver 1120 receivesfrom the user device event response generated by the user device.

That is, by using the event information received from the eventinformation provider 1110, the user may participate in the correspondingevent using the user device. The user device may transmit event responsegenerated by the event participation of the user, e.g., information ofan item selected by the user among multiple selection items, to thebroadcasting participation service apparatus. The event responsereceiver 1120 may receive the event response.

The event response receiver 1120 may receive event response from atleast one user device.

By using the event response received by the event response receiver1120, the event result generator 1130 generates result of thecorresponding event. If the event response receiver 1120 receivesmultiple event responses from multiple user devices, the event resultgenerator 1130 may generate event result by using the multiple eventresponse information.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating an information provider accordingto another exemplary embodiment.

The information provider 245 according to another exemplary embodimentincludes a comment information provider 1210, a comment relatedinformation request receiver 1220, a comment related informationprovider 1230, and a comment information database 1240.

In response to a comment information request received from the userdevice (not illustrated), the comment information provider 1210 providescomment information matched with the comment information request to theuser device.

The scene information provided to the user device by the sceneinformation provider (not illustrated) may include comment items relatedto the broadcasting contents. Accordingly, if the user selects thecomment related item from the scene information provided to the userdevice, the user device may request comment information matched with theselected comment related item to the broadcasting participation serviceapparatus (not illustrated). The comment information provider 1210 mayprovide the requested comment information to the user device.

The comment related information request receiver 1220 receives, from theuser device, the comment related information request generated by theuser device based on the comment information provided to the user deviceby the comment information provider 1210.

That is, the user device may request from the broadcasting participationservice apparatus information about a certain comment among at least onecomments included in the comment information received from the commentinformation provider 1210. The comment related information requestreceiver 1220 may receive the comment related information request fromthe user device.

In response to the comment related information request received by thecomment related information request receiver 1220, the comment relatedinformation provider 1230 acquires information related to the requestedcomments from the comment information database 1240 to provide theinformation to the user device.

The comment related information provided to the user device by thecomment related information provider 1230 may include reproduction timepoint of at least one contents matched with the corresponding comment.The user device may reproduce the contents matched with the comment fromthe reproduction time point by using the reproduction time pointincluded in the comment related information.

FIG. 10 is a view illustrating scene information displayed on a userdevice according to an exemplary embodiment.

The scene information 2100 displayed in the user device 400 according toan exemplary embodiment may include at least one icon (2111 to 2114)that identifies items or provides brief information about items such aspeople, places, products, and services shown in the broadcastingcontents.

Each of the icons (2111 to 2114) may include an image and a text thatidentifies an item. The user can view types of information that can beprovided using the icon including the image and the text.

The user may select a certain icon from the at least one icon (2111 to2114) included in the scene information by using an input interfaceprovided by the user device 400 so as to request information about theitem for the selected icon from the broadcasting participation serviceapparatus.

For example, if the user device 400 provides the user with a touchscreen as the input interface, the user may select his/her interestedicon from the icons (2111 to 2114) displayed on the touch screen so asto request information about the corresponding item from thebroadcasting participation service apparatus.

The scene information 2100 displayed on the user device 400 according toan exemplary embodiment may include an event item 2120. Accordingly, theuser may recognize an event displayed using the text or others. If theuser wishes to participate in the corresponding event, the user mayselect the event item 2120 displayed on the user device 400 toparticipate in the corresponding event, and provide his/her response tothe corresponding event which will be transmitted to the broadcastingparticipation service apparatus.

FIGS. 11A and B are views illustrating information displayed on a userdevice according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 11A is a view illustrating information about a person according toan exemplary embodiment. Information according to an exemplaryembodiment may include information (2210 to 2212) about the personappearing in the broadcasting contents, and provide the information(2210 to 2212) about the person to the user using the user devicedepending on a selection by the user.

For example, the person information (2210 to 2212) may include imageinformation 2210, profile information 2211 of the corresponding person,and furthermore, one or more buttons 2212 for requesting an address of aserver providing information related to the corresponding person, e.g.,URL information.

FIG. 11B is a view illustrating information about an advertisementaccording to an exemplary embodiment. Information according to anexemplary embodiment may include information (2220 to 2222) about aproduct appearing in the broadcasting contents, i.e., advertisementinformation, and provide the advertisement information to the user usingthe user device based on a selection by the user.

The advertisement information may include image information 2220,profile information 2221 and one or more buttons 2222 for requestinginformation enabling the user to purchase the corresponding product.

FIG. 12 is a view illustrating scene information including objectinformation about an advertisement output on a TV according to anexemplary embodiment.

In an exemplary embodiment, if the user requests scene information aboutadvertisement contents 2310 provided between broadcasting programs bythe TV (exemplary display device 10) from the broadcasting participationservice apparatus (not illustrated), the scene information 2320 providedto the user using the user device 400 may include an item 2330 about aproduct being advertised using the advertisement contents 2310.

Accordingly, the user may select an advertisement product item 2330included in the scene information 2320, so as to be provided withinformation about the advertised product, and furthermore, to obtain aninterface for requesting purchase information for the advertisedproduct.

The illustrative embodiments can be embodied in a storage mediumincluding instruction codes executable by a computer or processor suchas a program module executed by the computer or processor. A datastructure according to the illustrative embodiments can be stored in thestorage medium executable by the computer or processor. A computerreadable medium can be any usable medium which can be accessed by thecomputer and includes all volatile/non-volatile andremovable/non-removable media. Further, the computer readable medium mayinclude all computer storage and communication media. The computerstorage medium includes all volatile/non-volatile andremovable/non-removable media embodied by a certain method or technologyfor storing information such as computer readable instruction code, adata structure, a program module or other data. The computer storagemedium is a non-transitory computer readable medium. The communicationmedium typically includes the computer readable instruction code, thedata structure, the program module, or other data of a modulated datasignal such as a carrier wave, or other transmission mechanism, andincludes information transmission mediums.

The above description of the illustrative embodiments is provided forthe purpose of illustration, and it would be understood by those skilledin the art that various changes and modifications may be made withoutchanging technical conception and essential features of the illustrativeembodiments. Various modifications to illustrative embodiments will bereadily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principlesand specific examples defined herein may be applied to otherillustrative embodiments. Thus, it is clear that the above-describedillustrative embodiments are illustrative in all aspects and do notlimit the present disclosure. For example, each component described tobe of a single type can be implemented in a distributed manner.Likewise, components described to be distributed can be implemented in acombined manner.

The scope of the inventive concept is defined by the following claimsand their equivalents rather than by the detailed description of theillustrative embodiments. It shall be understood that all modificationsand embodiments conceived from the meaning and scope of the claims andtheir equivalents are included in the scope of the inventive concept.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of providing information comprising:generating broadcasting related information based on a broadcastingschedule provided by a broadcasting transmission apparatus; generatingscene information based on the broadcasting related information receivedfrom a broadcasting information generation apparatus; providing thegenerated scene information to a user device in response to a sceneinformation request received from a user device; receiving aninformation request based on the provided scene information from theuser device; and providing the information to the user device inresponse to the information request.
 2. The method of claim 1, whereinthe scene information comprises at least one object information about ascene provided in reproduced contents and wherein the informationcomprises information for a selected object from among the at least oneobject information.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the objectinformation included in the scene information is displayed on the userdevice in an icon form that comprises at least one of an image and atext.
 4. The method of claim 2, further comprising: receiving, from theuser device, a purchase information request that is generated based onthe provided information by the user device, if the information isadvertisement information.
 5. The method of claim 2, further comprising:receiving an event response to the provided information from the userdevice, if the information is event information; and generating an eventresult based on the received event response.
 6. The method of claim 2,further comprising: receiving, from the user device, a comment relatedinformation request that is generated by selecting a comment by the userdevice, if the information is comment information comprising a pluralityof comments about the contents; generating a comment related informationin response to the comment related information request; and providingthe generated comment related information to the user device, whereinthe comment related information comprises a reproduction time point ofthe contents corresponding to the selected comment.
 7. The method ofclaim 6, wherein the reproduction time point included in the commentrelated information provides additional data to reproduce the contentsfrom the reproduction time point.
 8. An apparatus for providinginformation comprising: a broadcasting program schedule receiverconfigured to receive a broadcasting program schedule from abroadcasting transmission apparatus; a broadcasting program scheduleprovider configured to provide the received broadcasting programschedule to a broadcasting information generation apparatus in responseto a broadcasting program schedule request received from thebroadcasting information generation apparatus; a broadcasting relatedinformation receiver configured to receive, from the broadcastinginformation generation apparatus, broadcasting related information thatis generated by the broadcasting information generation apparatus basedon the broadcasting program schedule; a scene information providerconfigured to provide a user device with scene information about a sceneincluded in contents that is being reproduced; and an informationprovider configured to provide information to the user device inresponse to an information request generated based on the provided sceneinformation by the user device.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein thescene information comprises at least one object information about ascene provided in the reproduced content and wherein the objectinformation is provided to the user device in an icon form thatcomprises at least one of an image and a text.
 10. The apparatus ofclaim 8, wherein if the information is advertisement information, theinformation provider comprises: an advertisement information providerconfigured to provide, to the user device, advertisement information inresponse to the information request received from the user device; and apurchase information provider configured to provide purchase informationto the user device in response to a purchase information requestreceived from the user device.
 11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein ifthe information is event information, the information providercomprises: an event information provider configured to provide eventinformation to the user device, in response to an event participationrequest received from the user device; and an event result generatorconfigured to generate an event result based on the event response fromthe user device.
 12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein if theinformation is comment information comprising a plurality of commentsrelated to the contents, the information provider comprises: a commentinformation provider configured to provide comment information to theuser device, in response to a comment information request received fromthe user device; and a comment related information provider configuredto provide comment related information to the user device in response toa comment related information request from the user device in which acomment is selected, wherein the comment related information comprises areproduction time point of the contents corresponding to the selectedcomment.
 13. A method of receiving information comprising: transmittinga scene information request comprising contents identificationinformation to a broadcasting participation service apparatus; receivingscene information matched with the contents identification informationfrom the broadcasting participation service apparatus; displaying thereceived scene information using a display unit included in a userdevice; generating an information request in response to a user input inwhich at least one object information included in the scene informationis selected; transmitting the information request corresponding to theselected object information to the broadcasting participation serviceapparatus; and displaying the information received from the broadcastingparticipation service apparatus using the display unit.
 14. The methodof claim 13, further comprising: generating a purchase informationrequest with reference to the received information, if the informationis advertisement information; and transmitting the purchase informationrequest to the broadcasting participation service apparatus.
 15. Themethod of claim 13, further comprising: transmitting an event responsebased on the provided information to the broadcasting participationservice providing apparatus, if the information is event information,wherein the broadcasting participation service apparatus generates anevent result based on the transmitted event response and transmits theevent result to the user device.
 16. The method of claim 13, furthercomprising: generating a comment related information request byselecting a comment, if the information is comment informationcomprising a plurality of comments related to the contents; andtransmitting the comment related information request to the broadcastingparticipation service apparatus.
 17. The apparatus of claim 11, whereinthe event result generator is configured to generate an event resultbased on analyzing the event response from the user device and eventresponses received from a plurality of other user devices.
 18. Themethod of claim 13, wherein the displayed information comprisesattribute information about the selected object information and whereinthe selected object information comprises at least one of a person, aproduct, or a place illustrated in the reproduced content.
 19. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the scene information is at least one of aplurality of objects listed in a list format, the plurality of objectsin a table format, a plurality of objects with an icon for each object,further comprising receiving a selection of one of the plurality ofobjects from the user device, wherein the selected object is at leastone of a place, a product, or a person shown in contents beingreproduced by a display apparatus different from the user device. 20.The method of claim 19, wherein the display apparatus is a television,wherein the user device is a mobile terminal, and wherein the contentsare a broadcasting program.
 21. The method of claim 20, wherein thescene information is based on a genre of the broadcasting program and isapplicable to a plurality of broadcasting programs including thebroadcasting program.